Stay up to date:Get a free personalized pregnancy and baby newsletter from What to Expect.com

Get your free personalized pregnancy and baby newsletter

or

I'm trying to conceive

I don’t live in the U.S.

First Time Mom

By clicking "SIGN UP," you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We will use your information to send you our newsletters, coupons and special offers, and we share your information with our partners

THANKS FOR SIGNING UP!

Home
> Preconception
> Mom Suspected in U.S. Capitol Chase Said to Have Postpartum Depression

Blog

+

U.S Capitol Chase Raises Questions About Postpartum Depression

0

by Sharon Mazel on October 04, 2013

Sharon Mazel

About the Author

Sharon Mazel is a journalist and mom to four girls. She works with Heidi Murkoff on her What To Expect book series and has written for The Washington Post, Parenting Magazine, Baby Talk Magazine, and of course, WhatToExpect.com. Before becoming a mom she was a TV writer and producer at NBC News, FOX News, and WPIX-NY.

About the Blog

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a place to share stories and highlight the many perspectives and experiences of pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff of the What to Expect brand.

Trending With Moms

Yesterday's news of the deadly shooting by police of Miriam Carey, the new mom who drove her car into a White House barrier before leading police on a high speed car chase to the U.S. Capitol, was unsettling enough, but the revelation that she may have been suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) makes the terrible events even more tragic.

News reports, quoting Carey's mother, say the 34-year-old dental hygienist and new mom was struggling with PPD since her daughter was born last summer — even requiring hospitalization for her depression. A toddler, believed to be Carey's one-year-old daughter, was safely removed from the car by police after the incident.

Friends and relatives of Carey expressed shock at the events, saying that she didn't at all seem like the type to threaten security and was in fact a sweet and caring person without a history of violence.

Though Carey experienced PPD according to her family, it's not been cited as to whether that was the reason for her actions and behavior. And, frankly, the situation is likely complicated by several other factors. Regardless, it's a good reminder to be aware of and on the lookout for signs of PPD as it can strike anyone in the first year or so after giving birth — even those without a history of depression or mental illness. Moreover, it's crucial to recognize and treat the condition as soon as it appears.

Ten to 20 percent of new moms suffer from PPD, experiencing symptoms similar to the baby blues (crying, irritability, exhaustion, anxiety, and insomnia) but that are more pronounced and more enduring, lasting weeks, months, or even a year or longer (the average woman with PPD has symptoms for more than six months). Other symptoms of PPD include eating problems, persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, memory loss, and an inability or lack of desire to take care of yourself and/or your baby. Sometimes women suffering from PPD also experience panic, mania, or even obsessive-compulsive thoughts or behaviors. Very rarely, a mother develops postpartum psychosis, which is much more extreme than PPD; symptoms include hallucinations or delusions that could cause a mom to be dangerous to herself or her baby.

One of the biggest challenges with PPD is that it can be very difficult for some women to admit, or even to recognize, that they might be suffering from PPD. That's why it's so important to be aware of the symptoms of the condition and to surround yourself with a network of family, friends, or neighbors who can offer help and support when you need it most — during the difficult transition to motherhood. If you suspect a friend or relative is struggling with symptoms, reach out to them and help them get the help they need.

To give yourself the best chance possible of warding off depression after your baby is born, be sure to take care of yourself by napping when the baby naps, if you can, and eating regularly (including foods rich in DHA, which could help prevent PPD) and getting plenty of fluids. And, women who have a history of depression or pregnancy depression should alert their practitioner during the pregnancy.

It's important to remember that PPD won't get better on it's own; it needs immediate attention. If you think you have baby blues or PPD, it's important to talk about it with your partner and your practitioner. If symptoms persist, a referral to a therapist might be warranted so you can get treated for your depression. Along with counseling, your practitioner and therapist may prescribe antidepressants (there are some that are safe for breastfeeding mothers) or other types of therapy to treat the condition. It's important to remember the PPD won't get better on it's own; it needs immediate attention.

There are also plenty of support groups and places you can turn to (such as www.postpartum.net/Get-Help.aspx; 1-800-944-4PPD) if you (or someone you know) is struggling with PPD.

Download our AppPregnancy & Baby

More

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advise, diagnosis or treatment, or in a place of therapy or medical care. User of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your
visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you.
If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here